NRS488.427. Penalty for second or subsequent felony; exception; segregation of offender; plea bargaining prohibited; aggravating factor.

      1.  Unless a greater penalty is provided pursuant to NRS 488.425, a person who violates the provisions of NRS 488.410 and who has previously been convicted of a violation of NRS 488.420 or 488.425 or a violation of the law of any other jurisdiction that prohibits the same or similar conduct as set forth in NRS 488.420 or 488.425 is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 15 years, and shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000. An offender so imprisoned must, insofar as practicable, be segregated from offenders whose crimes were violent and, insofar as practicable, be assigned to an institution or facility of minimum security.

      2.  The facts concerning a prior violation of NRS 488.420 or 488.425 must be alleged in the complaint, indictment or information, must not be read to the jury or proved at trial but must be proved at the time of sentencing.

      3.  A prosecuting attorney shall not dismiss a charge of violating the provisions of NRS 488.410 against a person previously convicted of violating NRS 488.420 or 488.425 in exchange for a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to a lesser charge or for any other reason unless the prosecuting attorney knows or it is obvious that the charge is not supported by probable cause or cannot be proved at the time of trial. A sentence imposed pursuant to subsection 1 must not be suspended, and probation must not be granted.

      4.  If a person less than 15 years of age was in the vessel at the time of the defendant’s violation, the court shall consider that fact as an aggravating factor in determining the sentence of the defendant.

      (Added to NRS by 2005, 615; A 2005, 22nd Special Session, 105; 2007, 1464)